Can Wearing the Hypershell Exoskeleton on a Bike Replace an E-Bike? I Tested Both

Wearing a motorized exoskeleton while pedaling a regular bike can boost your speed and reduce effort — but can it truly replace the convenience of an e-bike? CNET’s out-of-shape cycle enthusiast put the Hypershell exoskeleton head-to-head against a standard e-bike and found a clear winner, revealing surprising trade-offs in power, portability, and battery life.

In a recent hands-on test, a CNET reporter strapped on the Hypershell wearable exoskeleton, a lightweight robotic frame worn over the legs, and took it for a spin on a conventional bicycle. The goal: see if the exoskeleton’s assist technology could match the electric boost of a typical e-bike. The test was conducted on a mix of flat roads and gentle inclines, mimicking everyday commuting conditions. The result underscores the growing niche for wearable robotics in personal mobility — but also the hard limits of current consumer exoskeletons.

The Hypershell exoskeleton, developed by the Chinese startup Hypershell, is designed to augment human movement by providing torque at the hips and knees when pedaling. It weighs about 8 pounds and uses a lithium-ion battery to deliver up to 15 miles of assisted riding per charge. In contrast, the e-bike used for comparison was a mid-range model with a 500Wh battery capable of 40+ miles of pedal-assist range at speeds up to 20 mph.

During the test, the exoskeleton’s assistance felt natural and responsive, but the overall speed gain was modest — averaging 3–5 mph above unassisted cycling. The e-bike, on the other hand, consistently maintained higher speeds with less physical exertion. However, the exoskeleton offered key advantages: it turned any ordinary bike into an assisted ride without requiring a new purchase, and it could be worn for walking or hiking after cycling, adding versatility. The battery life of the exoskeleton proved a limiting factor — after about 90 minutes of continuous use, it needed recharging, while the e-bike still had significant range left.

“The exoskeleton is fun and futuristic, but for daily commuting or lengthy rides, the e-bike is still the practical winner,” the tester noted. Industry observers see exoskeletons as a complement rather than a replacement, especially for cyclists who want light assistance on short trips or who need a device that transitions between walking and biking. The broader implications point toward a future where wearable assistive technology merges with personal mobility, but current battery density and torque limitations keep exoskeletons from dethroning e-bikes.

As Hypershell and rivals like Sarcos and Ekso Bionics continue to refine their consumer exoskeletons, expect incremental improvements in battery life and power output. For now, anyone considering an upgrade from a traditional bike should still look at an e-bike first — but keep an eye on exoskeletons for the next generation of assistive wearables.